CalEvents:Jan/Jan 21

Notable events for January 21

Date

Event

Significance

January 21, 1920

Birth of Madiba Thembekile Mandela, son of Nelson Mandela

Madiba Thembekile Mandela, born on this day, was the first son of Nelson Mandela. His untimely death in a car accident in 1969 had a profound emotional impact on Mandela, who was imprisoned at the time and unable to attend the funeral. The event is part of the personal struggles Mandela faced during his fight against apartheid.

January 21, 1951

Election of Félix Houphouët-Boigny to French National Assembly

Félix Houphouët-Boigny was re-elected to the French National Assembly on this day. He would go on to become the first President of Côte d'Ivoire, playing a major role in the decolonization of Africa and promoting stability and development in West Africa.

January 21, 1960

Launch of the Sharpeville campaign by Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in South Africa

The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) launched the anti-pass Sharpeville campaign on this day. This led to the Sharpeville Massacre in March 1960, a turning point in the struggle against apartheid and a catalyst for international condemnation of the South African government.

January 21, 1977

Roots: The Saga of an American Family concludes airing on ABC television

The television adaptation of Alex Haley's *Roots* concluded its initial run on this day. The series traced Haley's African ancestry and was groundbreaking in its portrayal of slavery and the African-American experience, bringing African diaspora history to a wide audience.

January 21, 1983

President Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso launches revolutionary programs

Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso, launched a series of social and economic reforms aimed at reducing inequality, promoting women's rights, and eradicating corruption. His policies were a model of Pan-African socialism.

January 21, 1991

Nelson Mandela visits Zambia, thanking the country for supporting the ANC

On this day, Nelson Mandela visited Zambia to express gratitude for the country's support of the African National Congress (ANC) during the anti-apartheid struggle. Zambia played a key role in providing refuge and resources to South African freedom fighters.

January 21, 2017

Women's March takes place across the U.S. and around the world

The Women’s March, held on this day, became one of the largest global protests in history. African-American women and women of African descent played key roles in organizing the march, focusing on issues of racial and gender equality, immigration, and civil rights.

⬅ │ ➡